Biographical Note:

John M. Godown (1833 – 1911) was an engineer in Ft. Wayne, Indiana for the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne, and Chicago Railroad (1850s – 1860s). Godown also served as a lieutenant in the 12th Indiana Regiment during the Civil War. Following the war, Godown was secretary and treasurer of the State House Board where he was responsible for planning and constructing the new state capitol building.

Source:

Information Found within Collection

Scope and Content:

The collection includes John Godown’s Civil War letters to his fiancé Francis Fairbank of Lowell, Massachusetts while he was in Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia and letters written from a Confederate prison camp in South Carolina (1864 – 1865). Included are reminiscences by Godown of his early life and Civil War years, as well as reminiscences of his daughter Mary Godown McLaughlin, of growing up in Indianapolis.

Photocopy Policy:

Manuscript material CANNOT be photocopied or digitized in its entirety. Photocopies and/or digital reproductions (i.e. scans, digital photographs) cannot exceed 25% of a COLLECTION or FOLDER within a collection. In some cases, photocopying may not be permitted due to the condition of the item. Please check with the Manuscript Librarian for possible alternatives.